Steve Brickman, former Skyhawk pilot turned AMEXICO secret agent, sneaks into Ne-Issan to rescue lost friends, while trying to keep important Federation technology from the hands of his enemies.
What I liked
✅ plenty of magic, gore and action in the final half
✅ great character moments, especially as Brickman tries to gain the alcoholic Cadillac's trust
✅ plenty of political intrigue
What I didn't like
✖ paper-cut out, stereotypical portrayals of Japanese people and culture
✖ slow-paced first half
✖ while there was plenty of worldbuiling, it was copied from Japanese culture and often conveyed in lengthy chunks
To consider
➖ this is a product of when it was written; western attitudes and understanding of Japanese culture of the 80s are part of this book
Rating
3/5 🌟
Genre: Sci-fi
Verdict: Recommended